It is well known that carotenoids promote the bodies ability to defend against essentially all forms of cancer. You can find compelling evidence in the form of strong references that support that throughout peer-reviewed scientific / medical literature. A new study published by researchers from Montreal University in the July 2017 issue of the journal Frontiers in Oncology reinforces that point by showing that combinations of dietary carotenoids derived from food provide a 25%-35% protective factor against lung cancer.

Now, before I go any further let me start by saying that the single greatest cause of lung cancer is smoking. So if you smoke, stopping will be your strongest cancer prevention step.

That said, this study (link attached below) points out that smoker or not carotenoids offer protection to delicate lung tissue. It shows that those in the top 33% of food-based carotenoid consumers received a 25-35% risk reduction for lung cancer compared to the others in the group; irrespective of age, gender or smoking status. That makes this a powerful message for everyone!

(For heavy smoking females vitamin C seemed to provide added protection as well.)

The study also found that higher intake of food-based carotenoids equated to lowered cell development sub-forms of cancer, including squamous cell, small cell and adenocarcinoma cell growth.

Here's my takeaway;

  1. Dietary abundance of food-derived carotenoids is a strong health protector; for cancer, but other chronic diseases as well. We should all make getting them a priority every day.
  2. A diversity of food-derived carotenoids is hugely important.
    In this study they looked at 4 that work in synergy with each other; alpha and beta carotene, beta cryptoxanthin and lycopene.
  3. You can only get food-derived carotenoids from food. So eating lots of carotenoid-rich foods is important.
  4. If you have trouble consuming an abundance of carotenoid -rich foods each day, NeoLife Carotenoid Complex is your best supplemental source. Derived entirely from whole food sources Carotenoid Complex provides both carotenoid diversity of food-based carotenoids the body needs (a total of 15 are present, including the 4 mentioned in this study) and the carotenoid density; each capsule delivers the carotenoid power of a whole serving of carotenoid-rich fruits and vegetables.

So, eat smart every day and consume a lot of carotenoid-rich fruits and vegetables. And if you can't do that make sure to fill your whole food-carotenoid gap with Carotenoid Complex....or better yet, do both. I do.

Here's the link for those who like to see the data for themselves.

Source: Inverse Association between Dietary Intake of Selected Carotenoids and Vitamin C and Risk of Lung Cancer